distance

Meanings

Plural: distance, distanced, distances

Noun

• the property created by the space between two objects or points
• a distant region
  • "I could see it in the distance"
• size of the gap between two places
  • "the distance from New York to Chicago"
• indifference by personal withdrawal
  • "emotional distance"
• the interval between two times
  • "the distance from birth to death"
• a remote point in time
  • "if that happens it will be at some distance in the future"
  • "at a distance of ten years he had forgotten many of the details"
• An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• An amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• Chiefly in by a distance: a space of more than 30 lengths (about 80 yards or 7.3 metres) between two racehorses finishing a race, used to describe the margin of victory; also (archaic), any space of 240 yards (about 219.5 metres) on a racecourse.
• Chiefly in from a distance: a place which is far away or remote; specifically (especially painting), a more remote part of a landscape or view as contrasted with the foreground.
• Chiefly with a modifying word: a measure between two points or quantities; a difference, a variance.
• An interval or length of time between events.
• A separation in some way other than space or time.
• Synonym of length (“an extent measured along the longest dimension of an object”).
• A disagreement, a dispute; also, an estrangement.
• A difference in pitch between sounds; an interval.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• The maximum amount of space between a boxer and their opponent within which the boxer can punch effectively.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• Often in go the distance, last the distance, or stay the distance: the scheduled duration of a bout.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• The amount of space between a fencer and their opponent, which the fencer tries to control in order to gain an advantage over the opponent.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• Originally, the space measured back from the winning post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in a subsequent heat; also, the point on the racecourse that space away from the winning post; now, the point on a racecourse 240 yards from the winning post.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• The amount of space between soldiers or cavalry riders marching or standing in a rank; also, the amount of space between such ranks.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• The complete length of a course over which a race is run.
• The amount of space between points (often geographical points), usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
• Chiefly preceded by the, especially in into or in the distance: the place that is far away or remote.
• The state of being separated from something else, especially by a long way; the state of being far off or remote; farness, remoteness.
• The entire amount of progress to an objective.
• The state of remoteness or separation in some way other than space or time.
• The state of people not being close, friendly, or intimate with each other; also, the state of people who were once close, friendly, or intimate with each other no longer being so; estrangement.
• Excessive reserve or lack of friendliness shown by a person; aloofness, coldness.
• The rank to which an important person belongs.
• The state of disagreement or dispute between people; dissension.
• Often followed by to or towards: an attitude of remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, ceremoniousness.

Verb

• keep at a distance
  • "we have to distance ourselves from these events in order to continue living"
• go far ahead of
  • "He outdistanced the other runners"
• Often followed by from: to set (someone or something) at a distance (noun sense 1.1) from someone or something else.
• To cause (a place, a thing, etc.) to seem distant, or (figurative) unfamiliar.
• To leave behind (someone or something moving in the same direction; specifically, other competitors in a race) some distance away; to outpace, to outstrip.
• To keep (someone) emotionally or socially apart from another person or people.
• To exceed or surpass (someone, such as a peer or rival); to outdo, to outstrip.
• To keep (oneself) away from someone or something, especially because one does not want to be associated with that person or thing.
• Of a racehorse: to beat (another horse) by a certain distance; also (passive voice), to cause (a horse) to be disqualified by beating it by a certain distance.
• To cover the entire distance to (something).
• To depart from (a place); to leave (a place) behind.
• To indicate or measure the distance to (a place).
• To set (two or more things) at regular distances from each other; to space, to space out.
• Often followed by from.
• To set oneself at a distance from someone or something else; to move away from someone or something.
• Often followed by from.
• To keep oneself emotionally or socially apart from another person or people; to keep one's distance.

Synonyms

alienation, aloofness, length, outdistance, outgallop, outrun, outstrip, quarrel, space, standoffishness, unfriendliness, unsociableness

Related Words

distant